Flower power for two local mums

A pop of colour and a floral aroma has bloomed in Mount Duneed where Abby and Selma Maric have transformed a humble shipping container into a haven for fresh flowers and stylish giftware.

Confetti Blooms officially launched in February this year, a culmination of the pairs desire to do something for themselves and to fill a gap in the market.

Abby studied floristry about 10 years ago and was previously working as a nurse, after having children she made the decision that night shifts weren’t sustainable for her any more

 

Inspired by a shared love of all things gifts with Selma, they branched out on their own to create their first business together.

Stocking fresh flowers and giftware, Confetti Blooms was born over a lunch date between the two sisters-in-law, with the goal of providing customers with a quality product at an affordable price front of mind.

“We were thinking about where we could put our beautiful little vision, and Mount Duneed didn’t really have anywhere that you can get bunches of beautiful flowers like these and all the gifting that comes with in,” Selma said.

 

Knowing they didn’t want an extravagant shop, they initially started looking at food kiosks and trailers but were wanting something bigger, prettier and permanent.

“With a shipping container we could paint it how we wanted it and design where the awnings would go down to where the signage would be placed, where we couldn’t with a trailer.”

The actual container itself is off grid with no running water or electricity and instead operates using solar and batteries.

Abby and Selma both said operating this way hasn’t been an issue and also helped them to contribute to the environment while maintaining a high-quality product.

 

“It’s important for us to also make that sure that everything is fresh, so we always make sure that we’ve got our fresh waters and fresh vases,” Abby said.

“We pride ourselves to make sure we don’t leave any rubbish and we don’t make any mess to the surroundings and it’s important.”

The mint green shop, and its offerings, are a reflection of everything Abby and Selma represent, creating a space, that’s bright, colourful and fun where people can pick up a complete gift in the one place.

From flowers such as natives, dahlias and lilies through to candles, hand creams, kids toys, gift cards and more, the shipping container is stocked with items they love to use, at a price point for everyone.

 

As the business continues to grow, so will the gifting side, with hopes to showcase some products made locally.

“We have had a lot of local people come to us wanting to sell their products, we would absolutely love to be the go to, to have local products and stuff like that, I think that’s really important, people have supported us and we want to support them,” Abby said.

The flowers themselves are sourced locally coming from the Surf Coast, Geelong Flower Farm and Elaine, ensuring they are fresh and of high quality when they arrive in store.

Since opening the business, Abby and Selma have been welcomed by the community, getting to know the locals as they walk past each morning.

“For me, that’s probably been my favourite thing, getting to chat and that’s our job now and it just smells beautiful in here all the time and we get to play with pretty things and I love that,” Abby said.

“Being in Mount Duneed, you feel like you’re part of something and you hear people talking about you, you really feel among it and in it.”

 

Confetti Blooms is more than a business for Abby and Selma, as mums it represents their accomplishment in finding something they have been able to do for themselves that they love.

“We’ve made it, we’ve done it and we’ve done it with kids in tow and I think that’s probably been the most rewarding part for both of us,” Abby said.

“We’re best friends, we spend a lot of time together and for us it’s also empowering we can do it when we’ve got kids.

“Our kids have all got their own schedules and their own needs and they need their mums and I think it’s really nice that we can do it and make it work with our family’s support.”

As the pair look to the future, they aim to be reliable and meet the needs and demands of all their customers, with the possibility of opening up another location.

For more information, head to confettiblooms.com.au or follow them at @confettiblooms on Instagram.